The long-running judicial review process launched by the Coventry City owners is now exhausted.

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Court action by Sisu against Coventry City Council appears to be over after the Supreme Court refused them permission to appeal the Court of Appeal's May 2016 decision.

In a joint statement council leader George Duggins and Coun John Blundell, leader of the opposition, said: "Coventry City Council is pleased with the ruling of the Supreme Court today and that the Judicial Review process is now exhausted."

Key Events

"Pressure for Sisu to clear off will be relentless"

Coventry City supporters’ group CovFans2gether have had their say over Sisu’s latest court defeat.

A statement issued by the fans’ group reads:

We are pleased that this court action has finally ended and call on Sisu to now put the people of Coventry, and all Sky Blues fans, first and start having positive, proactive dialogue with all parties involved so that Coventry City Football Club can finally look to a brighter future.

If this course of action isn’t what Sisu are interested in following, then we would strongly recommend that they put the club up for sale and allow someone to take over who will put the best interests of the club and its fans (us) first and allow the club to finally look forward with some hope of a brighter future.

In the meantime, pressure from CovFansTogether and all groups will be relentless until Sisu get the message and clear off.

16:55Simon Gilbert

"Please just go away"

More fans’ reaction to the news today:

16:14Simon Gilbert

Why was the first court defeat appealed?

Speaking after the decision of the High Court to throw out Sisu’s initial legal action against Coventry City Council in July 2014, Tim Fisher said:

Coventry City chairman Tim Fisher

Given the evidence and submissions we were very surprised by the judgment.

We believe it is wrong in law and in fact. I have no doubt that this will be heard in the Court of Appeal in front of three very senior judges.

The appeal was eventually looked at by six more senior judges - three at the Court of Appeal and another three at the Supreme Court. All were in agreement with the original judgment made by judge Hickinbotton in June 2014.

The Court of Appeal judges even labelled the initial findings in the High Court “impressive”. You can read their decision here.

"It's a mere flesh wound!"

Council resources stretched by Sisu legal action

Coventry City Council leader George Duggins says the Ricoh Arena row has put a strain on the city’s resources.

He told the Telegraph: “I don’t want the council doing anything other than carrying out the functions it should be.

“Valuable officer time and ability has, quite rightly, has been engaged in dealing with legal cases we did not want and were clearly not justified.

“The judicial reviews are steps that should not have been taken and they have caused a lot of unnecessary anxiety.”

15:17Simon Gilbert

Council leader thinks Ricoh state aid would have been justified

Council leader George Duggins says he thinks the contested £14.4million Ricoh Arena taxpayer loan would have been justified, even if the courts had found it amounted to state aid.

He told the Telegraph: “The decision was totally right. I don’t understand where the state aid arguments came from. Even if it had been state aid it would have been justified because the Ricoh is in a regeneration area.

“The actions were taken for the benefit of Coventry and its citizens. 54 councillors, regardless of party, stood up together to take the right decision.”

15:09Simon Gilbert

Council "treated abhorrently"

Coventry City Council leader George Duggins says council officers and his two predecessors as council leader have been “treated abhorrently” by Sisu, not least when the former leaders Ann Lucas and John Mutton were dragged through an ethics committee hearing which you can read about here.

Coventry city councillors John Mutton and Ann Lucas

He told the Telegraph: “I spoke to Ann Lucas and John Mutton last night because I wanted to tell them what happened.

“Ann and John were treated abhorrently by them. I thought it was despicable the fact there were complaints to the ethics committee when they were only trying to do their jobs.”

15:02Simon Gilbert

Court decision "no surprise"

Coventry City Council leader George Duggins has said the Supreme Court’s decision was “no surprise”.

Council leader George Duggins and Sisu boss Joy Seppala

He told the Telegraph: “Everybody who read the original judgment knew it was clear as day from the implications of judge Hickinbottom’s judgment.

“Common sense said it was going to be a similar result.”

He added: “I always believed the loan was a sensible thing to have done and totally justified. We wanted to ensure an asset for the council and the people of Coventry was secured.”

14:55Simon Gilbert

"Deeply damaging to relationships"

Fighting the Jimmy Hill Way, an alliance of supporters group has spoken out over today’s Supreme Court decision.

A statement from the alliance reads:

We note the decision of the Supreme Court in the on-going dispute between Sisu and Coventry City Council, whereby Sisu have been refused permission to take this matter any further in the English Courts.

For the sake of the supporters of Coventry City FC and other stakeholders, we call upon Joy Seppala and her legal team to take no further court action, either in the original Judicial Review or in JR2 which would concern the sale of Arena Coventry Limited to Wasps Rugby Club and the associated long lease arrangements of the Ricoh Arena.

This protracted litigation has been deeply damaging to relationships between Coventry City and its key partners in the area. The breakdown of discussions with Wasps / ACL over the renewal of match-day arrangements after the 2017/18 season is a prime example but not the only instance where Sisu’s conduct has harmed the fortunes of the football club.

Having reached what we hope will be a full-stop in legal proceedings, we also repeat our call on Sisu to “Sell Up & Go” in accordance with the wishes of almost 20,000 signatures on the Coventry Telegraph’s petition. We demand that Ms Seppala recognises that the stewardship of Coventry City FC by her hedge fund and its nominated club directors has brought nothing but failure and mediocrity and it is time to make way for new owners who will cherish the Sky Blues and respect the fans of CCFC.

14:35Simon Gilbert

"Frustrating beyond belief"

Another Coventry City supporters’ group has had their say on the news today.

Preservation Sky Blues (PSB) has issued a statement which reads:

Today all of us at PSB have welcomed the inevitable news of Sisu losing the long winded money wasting court appeal.

We as thousands of other city fans can only now live in hope that this will finally be the end of this legal battle.

It has been frustrating beyond belief to watch our squad struggle at the foot of the league one table, crying out for investment to see our owners more interested in wasting money in the courts again.

We as I’m sure every other city fan long for the day that we can actually be football fans again by watching our club do battle on the pitch instead of in the court rooms. We firmly believe this will only happen under new owners. It’s time to go Sisu.

14:24Simon Gilbert

Wasps decline to comment

Wasps have said they won’t be commenting on today’s Supreme Court decision news.

Joy Seppala, Sisu; David Armstrong, Wasps; Tim Fisher, Coventry City

The Premiership Rugby club is set to be dragged into the legal row via a second court battle currently waiting in the wings.

Sky Blue Trust speaks out

A statement has been released by Coventry City’s largest supporters’ group, the Sky Blue Trust.

The Sky Blue Trust is pleased that the long-running and costly court case is now over and hopes that today’s Supreme Court decision heralds the apparent conclusion to off field distractions.

Perhaps now the club’s owners can try to restore amicable, business-like relations with all the organisations they have alienated during this protracted, acrimonious dispute to establish, for the good of the supporters, a positive future for the club.

The Trust calls on Sisu to put a stop to any further court action and return to the negotiating table to secure a sustainable future for the Club at the Ricoh Arena and to resolve the issues with its training facility and academy or, if they have no such inclination, to put the club up for sale to secure a new owner who is committed to a long-term, successful future for Coventry City FC.

The Trust has offered to meet with Sisu to discuss ways forward but to date these have been rebuffed, that offer still stands.

"The collusion is disgraceful"

Buzz Off Wasps: “A sad day for so called ‘British Justice’. The collusion against ccfc is disgraceful!”

David A Churchill: “Surely that was their last chance at making any money? I’d guess selling is their only option now... or sinking all their debts into the club and folding it. Either way I can’t imagine they have much reason to stick around now.”

Tim Fisher’s Sky Blue Army: “Shocking decision!”

13:07Simon Gilbert

"What's the point?"

You’ve been having your say on the big new today - Coventry City owners Sisu have suffered a knock out blow in their long-running Ricoh Arena court battle.

What is JR2?

Sisu have lodged an application to challenge the terms of the deal which saw Premiership rugby club Wasps secure Ricoh Arena firm ACL in October 2014.

Wasps secured 100 per cent of the company by paying the council and Alan Edward Higgs Charity’s £2.77million each for their 50 per cent shares.

The rugby club also paid back the remainder of a £14.4million council loan to ACL and agreed an extension of the lease of the venue from 50 years to 250 years from freehold owners Coventry City Council.

This second legal challenge can get underway now the first judicial review process appears to have ended.

The aim of the legal action is not yet clear but it is likely Sisu would like to see the deal undone or for compensation to be paid for the negative impact on the football club.

Supreme Court decision in full

The Telegraph has secured a copy of the Supreme Court Decision.

Sisu’s appeal was refused “because the application does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered at this time bearing in mind that the case has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal.”

You can read it in full below.

Supreme Court decision against Sisu

12:24

"Running of CCFC feels increasingly amateur"

The ongoing court action has been a major bone of contention among CCFC fans - but there have been a whole host of reasons why thousands have called on London hedge fund owners Sisu to leave.

Council will seek court costs from Sisu

“We have been awarded costs for three court cases and we will look to claim back the costs we have incurred.”

Costs for the case are thought to be well north of £1million. Previous council totals but the local authorities costs, ahead of the latest Supreme Court decision, at more than £600,000.

Sisu’s costs are thought to be much higher.

11:51

No comment from CCFC

It doesn’t look like we’ll be getting a comment from CCFC or chairman Tim Fisher who has previously been vocal over the situation.

We’ve had no correspondence at all back from Sisu or their legal team.

11:44

Council boss tells Sisu "shape up or ship out"

Coventry City Council leader Coun George Duggins spoke to the Telegraph shortly after news of the latest court defeat for Sisu broke.

He said: “My view is that it is now up to Sisu to mend the relationships they have broken with the city council and a whole raft of other people.

“Sisu should shape up or ship out, it’s as simple and straightforward as that.

“Sisu now have to ask not what Coventry can do for them, but what they can do for Coventry.”

11:23

"Time to go"

You have been having your say on the latest court defeat for CCFC owners Sisu.

11:11

More key facts

6) The judge said the withdrawal of rent was a deliberate strategy by Sisu to “distress ACL’s financial position, with a view to driving down the value of ACL and thus the price of a share in it, which they coveted.”

7) Sisu criticised a £14.4m loan to ACL, which they argued was a failing business. But the judge responded by pointing out Sisu had ploughed £50m into a “hopelessly loss-making football club” in the hope they could make profit by buying into the Arena. He also said Sisu and its investors had “written off” this money.

8) The £14.4m loan made to ACL by the council was likely more than the value of the company - but this was acceptable as it was a long term investment which would see the council make a return.

9) The judge dismissed Sisu’s argument that the council had put policy above financial sense was “misconceived” - pointing out that the council was “entitled - if not bound” to consider politics in its decision-making process.

10) Criticisms of council officers which suggested they had misled councillors ahead of the decision to make the £14.4m loan to ACL were “unfounded”.

11:03

Key facts in Ricoh Arena court battle

There has been much said about the behaviour of various parties during this dispute. But here are some key findings in High Court judge justice Hickinbottom’s judgment - a stance subsequently backed by three Court of Appeal judges and the Supreme Court.

1) A £14.4million loan from Coventry City Council to the Ricoh Arena operating firm ACL in January 2013 was not unlawful state aid.

2) The judge could not say a rational private investor would not have made a similar loan and the council acted “well within the ambit extended to public authorities”.

3) Sisu sought to blame the club’s financial woes on ACL, but the judge said the club sold their right to revenues at the Ricoh Arena “for good consideration”. He also pointed out that when Sisu bought the club they had “full knowledge” of the lack of revenue rights and the contractual commitment to pay ACL £1.3m-a-year in rent.

4) The club’s outgoings on rent were less than ten per cent of the club’s overall expenditure in 2012.

5) The judge said the crisis in ACL was triggered by Sisu refusing to pay rent. He also said £500,000 taken from an escrow and £10,000 costs paid per match was “expenses” and not rent.

10:39

What happens next?

This appears to be the end of the line for the first leg of the legal battle which was sparked back in January 2013.

Coventry City’s owners Sisu previously indicated they could refer aspects of the council Ricoh Arena loan to the European Commission - but there appears to have been no movement in this direction and members of the council’s legal team seems to think this would now be unlikely.

However, there is a second judicial review in the pipeline which relates to Wasps takeover of the Ricoh Arena. That has been paused until the conclusion of the first legal challenge and could now be set in motion.

10:29

Any comment?

We have approached Tim Fisher and the head of communication at CCFC for comment along with Laura Deering and Joy Seppala at Sisu.

There have also reached out to Alex Carter-Silk, one of Sisu’s top legal advisers to see where this takes us next.

No responses as yet, but we’ll let you know if we get anything.

10:24

What did the original 2014 High Court judgment say?

Among the judge’s key findings was that the crisis at ACL had been triggered by Sisu refusing to pay the £1.3m annual rent. He added the withdrawal of rent was a deliberate strategy by Sisu to “distress ACL’s financial position, with a view to driving down the value of ACL and thus the price of a share in it, which they coveted.”

He added that he could not say a rational private investor would not have made a similar loan and the council acted “well within the ambit extended to public authorities”.